Highlights From California ProCases
June 11, 2019
With the completion of the 2019 MLB Draft last week, the focus now shifts to 2020. Early impressions are strong with several states rebounding from a down year and the high school class showing depth. To begin coverage of the 2020 MLB Draft, I spent the weekend in California for the SoCal and NorCal ProCases.
On Saturday, RHP Jared Jones (La Mirada HS, CA) was the biggest highlight, showing his usual electric arsenal in a live batting practice session. His first pitch was 97 mph and he sat mostly 94, facing eight batters. His athleticism and fastball are no secret, but the changeup was equally as impressive. It showed filthy run and sink, diving to his arm side at 89-90. He also mixed in a sharp slider in the low 80s. As the last pitcher to throw, Jones capped the day against his teammate, 3B Eugene Jeon (La Mirada HS, CA). Jones, a Southern California recruit, had told Jeon he would challenge him with fastballs to see if he could hit him. But that turned out to be gamesmanship as Jones, with a huge grin on his face, started him off with two sliders and then blew up his bat with fastball. Jones also took a round of BP, launching a few balls out of the park with an easy right-handed swing.